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TrueDrive: Is the 2012 Hyundai Veloster a Gateway Car?

Tuesday, 20 September 2011 06:30Written by Shadee Malekafzali

Hyundai is pushing the new 2012 Veloster as a gateway to the brand, describing it as a vehicle that they hope will hook customers from other automakers and will get them engaged with all things Hyundai. The youthful Korean manufacturer has been moving fast and furiously over the last few years to increase its market share: the company has vamped up its vehicle lineup, deployed the latest technologies and innovative services, and offered inspired design, all at competitive prices that have at the least made car buyers think twice and open the gate. But the question is, will the Veloster motivate consumers enough to walk through it to purchase the sporty little car?

Driving Impressions of the 2012 Hyundai Veloster

The three-door Hyundai Veloster – that’s right, it’s a three-door coupe, there’s no rear door on the driver side – is a head-turner from a design perspective with a funky coupe-and-hatchback fused style. It’s not necessarily a beautiful car, but it’s different, perhaps eccentric. Practicality is certainly forsaken for uniqueness when it comes to that passenger-side third door. There’s a moment of “that’s cool!” followed quickly by, “why not just add a fourth door and make it a four-door coupe?” The first sentiment just may linger longer with the young target demographic that don’t necessarily need or want to be practical. That said, Hyundai did a great job of masking the third door to minimize the asymmetry to the car’s exterior; the door handle is tucked quietly inside the corner of the window.

Behind the wheel, the sporty Veloster is fun to drive down windy roads and easy to maneuver through tight city streets with better-than-average handling and suspension, and sport-tuned power steering to keep you in control. However, the car was unusually pokey when going up a hill or significant incline. If you’re driving up a ramp to merge onto a busy and speedy freeway, this could be very unpleasant and you may catch yourself giving the car a pep talk to get up the hill as we did. Considering the car goes 0-60 mph in a meandering 9.8 seconds, the Veloster (or its driver) just might need the moral support when merging onto the freeway. If you’re primarily a city driver and not getting on the freeway too much, you won’t mind the sluggishness. The car was also a bit noisy (the dual clutch automatic more so than the manual) which was especially apparent when driving along quiet country roads. The car is surprisingly roomy, featuring best-in-class interior volume, with comfortable rear passenger seating.

If you’re looking for a compact car that offers distinct design (as well as several super fun and bright color options), the latest technology options, and promises 40 mpg on the freeway at a starting price tag under a $20,000, the Veloster is a catch.

2012 Hyundai Veloster Features

The Veloster comes with a 138-horsepower/1.6-liter, four-cylinder gasoline direct injection engine with Continuously Variable Valve Timing (D-CVVT) mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or to a six-speed EcoShift dual-clutch transmission, which blends the fuel-economy of a manual transmission with the comfort and smoothness of an automatic. The EcoShift DCT also includes a convenient Hillstart Assist Control that minimizes rolling back on hills.

Entertainment technology-wise, the Veloster features a 7-inch touch-screen display with Pandora internet radio integrated through an iPhone. Gracenote works with the driver's iPod to allow easy access to the driver's music using voice recognition commands. Two audio systems are available on the Veloster: a standard 196-watt AM/FM/Satellite Radio/CD/MP3 system with six-speakers and iPod/USB/auxiliary inputs or a 450-watt Dimension Premium audio system with eight speakers. Bluetooth with voice-recognition and address book download capabilities comes standard, while touch-screen navigation and rear-view camera with warning sensors are optional. And if you need to kill a little time while parked, the Veloster supports gaming through an optional USB jack, RCA inputs, and 115-volt power outlet. Blue Link infotainment/convenience/safety technology is also available on the Veloster, which three different packages available and complimentary trial periods offered for each package.

Additional features include a panoramic sunroof, leatherette trim and leather-wrapped steering wheel, and 18-inch alloy wheels as part of the Style trim package; proximity key with push-button start, navigation system with rearview camera and backup sensors, and automatic headlights are added with the Tech package.

The Veloster is backed by Hyundai’s generous 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, five-years of complimentary roadside assistance and car buyer’s can now take advantage of Hyundai’s innovative new Trade-in Value Guarantee, which takes away owner concern about the future depreciation of their Hyundai.

2012 Hyundai Veloster Pricing

Pricing on the 2012 Hyundai Veloster starts at $17,300 (plus $760 destination fee) for the six-speed manual and $18,550 for the six-speed EcoShift™ Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) and is already on sale in dealerships.

If you’ve decided to buy a 2012 Hyundai Veloster, be sure to visit www.truecar.com for your new car pricing research. TrueCar shows you what other people paid for a new car in your area in the last 30 days, then gets you an even better price from a trusted TrueCar Certified Dealer in your local area. TrueCar gives you the confidence to know you’re getting a fair price and makes the car buying process easier and more enjoyable than ever before.

Comments

Dan S21-09-2011, 09:49

“why not just add a fourth door and make it a four-door coupe?”

What apeals to me most about this car is the door setup. I hate it when my 3rd passenger tries to get in the car sitting behind me, I always direct them to the passenger side. With no rear door on my side, they won't ever try to get in behind me. Also, the drivers side door on the Veloster is longer than the front passenger door and creates a larger opening which is alot easier to get into and out of.